Abstract: A system for optical communication between first and second optical terminal stations, containing a plurality of working optical transmission lines each for connecting between the first and second optical terminal stations, a protection optical transmission line. Each of the first and second optical terminal stations contains a plurality of working pieces of optical terminal equipment, connected to the respective working optical transmission lines, a protection piece of optical terminal equipment connected to the protection optical transmission line, and a plurality of bidirectional optical signal paths, provided corresponding to the respective working pieces of optical terminal equipment, and each operative to connect the corresponding working piece of optical terminal equipment to the protection piece of optical terminal equipment.

Abstract: A parallel-to-serial converter multiplexes parallel input data into a serial output data. This converter includes a multiplier for multiplying an input clock corresponding to a parallel input data, a divider for dividing the multiplied clock, and a waveform shaping circuit for shaping a serial output data by the multiplied clock. The converter multiplexes parallel data at a center of each phase thereof based on the divided clock by adjusting phases between the input data (or the input clock) and the divided clock to be in a predetermined relationship.

Abstract: A slice amplifier using field effect transistors (FET's) is provided which is suitable for achieving a correct discrimination of logics "0" and "1" of an input signal (S.sub.in) at very high speed by reshaping the input signal (S.sub.in) into rectangular shaped pulses (S.sub.out). The top and bottom of each pulse are determined to predetermined constant levels by using a first FET (T.sub.1) and a second FET (T.sub.2) with the aid of a first monitor and control unit (41) and second monitor and control unit (42). The first and second monitor and control units (41, 42) monitor the drain voltages of the first and second FET's (T.sub.1, T.sub.2) and control the gate-source voltages thereof, respectively, so as to realize the predetermined constant levels.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser driving device using FET's as a positive element in a bias current supply circuit and a pulse current supply circuit, and having compensating circuits for compensating differences in the characteristics of the FET's and a laser diode used in the driving device. Also a pulse amplifier suitable for use as the pulse current supply circuit in the semiconductor driving device, which circuit cuts off a pulse top side portion and a pulse base side portion of an input pulse with respect to a mesial point of the input pulse to obtain an output pulse having a desired pulse amplitude in response to a control signal, without varying a pulse width.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser driving device using FET's as a positive element in a bias current supply circuit and a pulse current supply circuit, and having compensating circuits for compensating differences in the characteristics of the FET's and a laser diode used in the driving device. Also a pulse amplifier suitable for use as the pulse current supply circuit in the semiconductor driving device, which circuit cuts off a pulse top side portion and a pulse base side portion of an input pulse with respect to a mesial point of the input pulse to obtain an output pulse having a desired pulse amplitude in response to a control signal, without varying a pulse width.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for measuring a mode partition characteristics of laser diode with so-called a k-value (k factor), in which the PN (Pseudo Noise) pulse pattern is used for modulation of laser diode to be measured on the occasion of measuring various parameters required for calculation of the k value.